ROLES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN TRAINING THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE IN THE AGING SOCIETY

Abstract As population aging advances, the need for health, medical and long-term, care necessarily increases. On one hand, certain occupations mostly with routine tasks are likely to be automated by computers and technology over time. On the other hand, the previously estimated job automation risks clearly suggest that health care occupations are less likely to be automated, compared to other industries. For example, while 12-45% of health care occupations could be replaced by technology, over 80% of simple food preparation and entry-level customer service is projected to be automated within a few decades. Thus, the demand to train the health care workforce for the aging population will continue to be high, despite the advancement in computers and technology. Certain health care occupations such as licensed practical nurses, nurse assistants, medical technicians, and home health aides, do not require bachelor’s degrees. Considering the current and projected health care workforce shortage, education and training of the future health care workforce is a critical issue when preparing for growing older populations in the U.S. This study triangulated data on health care occupations, literature on workforce development, and emerging trends on aging-related health and long-term care needs, and critically analyzed the role of community colleges to meet the demands for health care workforce in the U.S. Results showed that the history, geographic locations, and existing health care programs position community colleges as one of the most effective and efficient health care workforce development institutions. Specific examples of health care professional training programs are also evaluated.

University of Birmingham,Alabama,United States,3. University of Kentucky,Lexington,Kentucky,United States Approximately 44% of people living with HIV (PLWH) experience HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).Cognitive training approaches, such as speed of processing (SOP) training, may reduce the detrimental impact of HAND on everyday functioning.In this experimental design study, 216 participants 40 and older with HAND or borderline HAND (82% Black) were randomized to one of three groups: 1) 10 hours of SOP training (n=70); 2) 20 hours of SOP training (n=73), or 3) 10 hours of Internet Navigation Control Training (a contact control group; n=73).Participants completed several everyday functioning measures at baseline, posttest, and year 1 and year 2 follow ups.Everyday functioning measures included: 1) Modified Lawton and Brody Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Questionnaire; 2) Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) Test; 3) Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning (PAOFI); 4) Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ); and 5) Medication Adherence Visual Analog Scale (VAS).Linear mixed-effect models and generalized estimating equation models were fitted to estimate between group differences at all follow-up time points.At follow-up timepoints, those in the 10-hour and 20-hour training groups performed better on medication adherence measures (MAQ and VAS) than those in the control group, with effects (Cohen's d) ranging from 0.13 to 0.41 for MAQ and 0.02 to 0.43 for VAS.In conclusion, SOP training improved some indicators of everyday functioning, specifically medication adherence; however, the therapeutic effects diminished over time.This is an interesting finding given the importance of medication adherence in viral suppression and overall survival in PLWH.

THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN TRAINING HEALTH CARE WORKERS FOR AN AGING POPULATION
Chair: Phyllis Cummins Discussant: Philip Taylor The aging population in the U.S. has resulted in an increased need for healthcare workers in multiple health settings (e.g., home healthcare, nursing homes, hospitals, medical laboratories).Community colleges play an important role in educating healthcare workers that are critical to an aging population.Many of these occupations focus on home healthcare, empowering adults to remain at home rather than in a long-term care setting.This session will focus on novel ways that community colleges are effectively addressing workforce needs in multiple settings, including hospitals, home healthcare, long-term care, and medical laboratories.A panel of community college and university gerontology and education professionals representing GSA's Community College and the Aging Workforce Interest Groups will share the innovative ways in which they are addressing the needs of an aging population.Yamashita and Narine will discuss the current and future demand for employees in healthcare occupations, especially those in long-term and home healthcare settings, and will focus on careers that do not require a bachelor's degree.Velazquez's presentation will focus on the impact COVID had on training healthcare workers in healthcare related occupations and how one community colleges adapted their curriculum.Cummins et al. will discuss a study that focused on the role literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills play in community college students' success in the classroom and the healthcare workplace, focusing on employer interviews.Finally, Kaur will discuss the role Hillsborough Community College plays in training medical laboratory scientists and in providing employees for critical medical services to an aging society This is a collaborative symposium between the Aging Workforce and Community College Interest Groups.Community colleges (CCs) play a critical role in educating healthcare workers that are important to an aging population.This study investigated the role literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills play in CC student success in the classroom and the workplace.Semi-structured virtual and in-person interviews were completed with CC administrators (n=9) and faculty (n=6), along with employers (n=10) who hire students from CCs.We focus on healthcare employers (i.e., home healthcare, nursing homes and hospitals) and the skills they value along with skills that are lacking in CC hires.Examples of health care occupations filled by CC students include certified nursing assistants, qualified medication aides, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs).Employers reported working closely with CCs, including providing opportunities for clinical rotations, serving on program advisory councils, and providing input into program development.Numeracy skills, such as measuring medication dosages, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills, including conflict resolution, are important and expected by employers.Communication skills are also highly valued, especially the ability to communicate on the level of the nursing home resident or hospital patient, along with their family members.Employers noted that LPNs and RNs sometimes have limited leadership and supervisory skills and remarked they are working with CC faculty and administrators to identify mechanisms (e.g., role playing, case studies) to improve those skills.Findings from this project will inform both CC administrators and employers regarding skills that are necessary to succeed as students and healthcare workers to meet the needs of an aging population.

ROLES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN TRAINING THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE IN THE AGING SOCIETY
Takashi Yamashita, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States As population aging advances, the need for health, medical and long-term, care necessarily increases.On one hand, certain occupations mostly with routine tasks are likely to be automated by computers and technology over time.On the other hand, the previously estimated job automation risks clearly suggest that health care occupations are less likely to be automated, compared to other industries.For example, while 12-45% of health care occupations could be replaced by technology, over 80% of simple food preparation and entry-level customer service is projected to be automated within a few decades.Thus, the demand to train the health care workforce for the aging population will continue to be high, despite the advancement in computers and technology.Certain health care occupations such as licensed practical nurses, nurse assistants, medical technicians, and home health aides, do not require bachelor's degrees.Considering the current and projected health care workforce shortage, education and training of the future health care workforce is a critical issue when preparing for growing older populations in the U.S.This study triangulated data on health care occupations, literature on workforce development, and emerging trends on aging-related health and long-term care needs, and critically analyzed the role of community colleges to meet the demands for health care workforce in the U.S. Results showed that the history, geographic locations, and existing health care programs position community colleges as one of the most effective and efficient health care workforce development institutions.Specific examples of health care professional training programs are also evaluated.

MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS' ROLE IN THE CARE OF AN AGING POPULATION Tripat Kaur, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, Florida, United States
Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) are a group of highly skilled professionals in the healthcare industry who are responsible for working on specimens and providing results that are accurate in diagnosing medical disorders and monitoring treatments.These heroes work behind the scenes and face a critical shortage of personnel required to meet the needs of an ageing population.The number of clinical tests has increased 388% since 1993, from 12,683 to nearly 62,000.In addition, the Centers for Disease Control reports that for the >500 million primary care patient visits each year, one out of three patient encounters result in the ordering of at least one laboratory test.To meet these high testing volumes medical and clinical laboratories are highly automated with instrumentation utilized in all aspects of testing to improve the turnaround time for reporting results.Programs that offer medical laboratory science programs often must prepare the students for this highly technical field.To assist in the shortages that the laboratories faced, 6 years ago, BayCare Health System approached Hillsborough Community College Health Science division about setting up a post-baccalaureate medical laboratory science program.The program has now had approximately 100 graduates who have jobs around the Tampa Bay hospitals.Educational institutions face challenges in meeting current needs because of the lack of visibility of the medical laboratory science profession, a drop in the total enrollment in colleges over the last 5 years, and a rise in the national median age of the current population.The Pandemic changed how community colleges prepare the next generation of healthcare workers, and they are slowly adjusting to remain relevant in the current environment.How community colleges train their students will determine how well their communities will be cared for, which is why this topic is important.Some of the strategies implemented to fulfill the East Los Angeles' College (ELAC) workforce demands following COVID are: aligning basics skills with some of the courses; providing career counseling, including mock interviews; opportunities to branch out and transfer in two years; connecting students with services to address their basic needs including mental health.Faculty are also required to stay current, and they need support from their local Districts and national collaborators.Some completed specialized training in humanizing curriculum and transforming faculty learning programs to improve undergraduate STEM faculty's instructional practice.Moreover, the ELAC faculty felt that developing a humanities course tailored to Health and Human Services could be a great start to connect current needs with our academic programming.Faculty are revising and collecting content to address recent changes impacting our society and how we operate in the fast-changing work environment.After the Pandemic, the use of technology is more common and accepted.This change facilitates interactions, and this is a contributing factor to the program development process.For example, the advisory questionnaire is now available electronically, and therefore expecting more participation.Faculty have more variety and options for training to improve content development and delivery strategies.

IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY WALKING PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES-WALK-ON!
Chair: Barb Nicklas Co-Chair: Jaime Hughes Discussant: Kathryn Porter Starr Clinical trials in controlled settings show walking interventions improve function and reduce mobility loss in older adults.In the NIA-funded LIFE study, participants with more compromised function derived the most benefit, yet improvements were not sustained.Based on this research, clinicians often prescribe walking for older patients.However, few communities provide accessible opportunities for those with limited function to engage in safe, ability-appropriate, walking.Additionally, no evidence-based National Council on Aging exercise programs emphasize ambulation over longer distances in supervised and social settings.In collaboration with community partners, we developed and initiated